Today’s clip is “Farewell to Paradise” by Emitt Rhodes.

Rhodes is most often referred to as “the one-man Paul McCartney,” because he wrote, performed, and recorded his music entirely on his own in his garage studio. And yes, his music absolutely has a mid-60s-to-mid-70s McCartney sound. He’s been a cult favorite since his debut album came out in 1970, and legions of ProTools- and GarageBand-equipped home musicians have recently embraced him as one of their own.

A blogger at mog.com named Spike_1 wrote a great review of Rhodes’ last album, 1973’s Farewell to Paradise, which also serves as a nice introduction to the artist and his music. I suggest starting there if you’re interested in learning more.

I came into “Farewell to Paradise” via, of all people, Vic Damone, who did an easy-listening version of the song in the early 1980s. Despite the sugary arrangement I found something truly haunting about the tune and the lyrics, and I had to learn who was originally responsible for the song. Once I did, I was down the Emitt Rhodes rabbit hole.

The song is a lament and a lullaby, with feelings of both sadness and hope. You may find that once it gets in your head you won’t be able to let go of it, and knowing that every sound in this recording is the product of one guy will impress you.

Here are links to the Emitt Rhodes best-of collection at iTunes and Amazon.

Farewell to Paradise (Rhodes)
—
Rest your heart and free your soul, travel-worn at journey’s end
As you slowly sail away billowed clouds softly descend
Midnight, moonlight, starbright, wish me a warm sunrise
Farewell to Paradise
Passing dreams too quickly fade all are lost when we awake
Breathless wind blow me away, bring me back before daybreak
Midnight, moonlight, starbright, wish me a warm sunrise
Farewell to Paradise
With every newborn sun I’m a child with eyes unkept
With every hour passed I’m alone with time well-spent
Say so long to Shangri-La, sad farewell to paradise
Sailing ships across the sea shed a tear from sorrowed eyes
Midnight, moonlight, starbright, wish me a warm sunrise
Farewell to Paradise